Automatic phonograph



March 13, 1951 c. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1945 9 MI I MA/umu 1./ 370 4 4 6 2 3 7 4 4 6 a M w 4 5% h B 5 A 2 w w W Z I 4 w a "H U i w 4 -F 1 4 u i J H 5 3 4 2 2 H 1 d 4 5 H mm H T m. Q6497. M

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 7.

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Carl G. Johnson, .Chicago, Ill., assignor to J. P.

Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 31, 1945, Serial No. 585,902 Claims. (01. 27-4-10) This invention relates to automatic phonographs of the general type in which-one or more The escapement mechanisms comprise in general a shelf which supports the records and a blade which is adapted, on actuation of the escapement mechanism, to enter the stack above l head was clutched to the actuated mechanism the lowermost record, after which the shelf clears the lowermost record allowing it to escape.

In Patent No. 2,292,564, issued to me on Au.- gust 11, 19 12, I have described and claimed an escapement mechanism including a member adapted to be engaged by, a record of smaller size in the lowermost position of the stack and means associated with this member arranged, when the member is thus actuated, to move upwardly so as to elevate a record of larger size in the second position from the bottom of the stack so that the blade is able to enter the stack without engaging this record of larger size even in the event that it is mushroomed so that its edge extends below the level of the lowermost record of smaller size. The elevating members were generally oval shaped and were pivoted below the level of the shelf. In their normal positio they were below the level of the shelf but wereswung about their pivots upwardly so as to elevate a larger record in the second position from the bottom of the stack. The member arranged tobe engaged by the periphery of a record of smaller size was resiliently supported so that a record of larger size in the lowermost position merely moved it down below level of the shelf.

In my copending application Serial No. 576,931, filed February 9, 1945, I have described and claimed a similar mechanism in whichthe elements having the function of raising a larger record in the second position frornthe bottom shelf.

so as to elfect the stopping of the phonograph.

In the case of the aforesaid application also, the members which engage a record of larger size to elevate it were generally oval andarranged to be swung about pivots below the level of the In both cases the movement of the elevating means into operating position was accompanied by a sliding movement over the under surface of the record of largerv size. Consequently in the case of soft records and particularly where the stack was heavy there is danger of injury to the recorded surface of the larger record engaged by the elevating means.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved record elevating means in which the possibility of this injury to the rec-' ords is completely obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved escapement mechanism in which a record of larger size in the second lowermost position is. elevated by non-sliding movements of elements having a relatively large engaging surface.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with "the accompanying drawings, in which: r

- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automatic phonograph embodying the invention; 7 Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through one escapeiment mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

1 Fig. .3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the upper portion of Fig. 2 with the elements actuated by a smaller record in the lowermechanism responded differently to records of A different sizes so that in the case'of one size of record in the lowermost position the escapement head was declutched and in the case of a record of another the escapement was clutched to the actuable mechanism. In another of the escapement heads the' record elevating mechanism was arranged to declutch the escapement head from an actuating mechanism when a record of any size was in the lowermost position. When no record was on the shelves this escapement most position and elevating a larger record in the position immediately above;

Fig. 4. is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3

showing the elements in the position into which they are moved by a record of larger size;

' Fig. 5 is a sectional detail plan view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i v

Fig. 6 is a sectional elev'ationthrough another escapement mechanism, the section being taken on the line 66 of Fig. l; 1

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the manner 1t; Fig. 8 is a similar view. showing the manner in which thelescapement cooperates with a record of larger size in the lowermost position;

. A Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail on a larger scale taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional detail'on a similar larger scale taken on the line l9-|9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1 the phonograph comprises a motor board 29, a turntable 2| having a relatively long central spindle 22, a player arm 23. and threeescapement mechanisms 24, 25 and .26. The turntable 2| is driven by a motor (not shown) by means of friction wheels 21' and 28,. To put the machine into operation a stack of records is placed upon the escapements 2.4,. 25., and 26, the spindle 22 extending through their central openings. The control button 21. is, moved downwardly from the off to the reject position and is then manually released so that it moves to the automatic position. Movement of the button 21 to reject position trips the mechanism so that the escapements 24, 25 and 26 are oscillated to. drop the, lowermost record onto. the turntable and the player arm 23 is moved into initial playing position for the reproduction of the dropped record. At the end, of the playing of this record the mechanism is tripped so that the player arm 23 is moved outwardly, the escapements are actuated to drop the next record and the player arm is moved inwardly to initial playing position on that record. This operation is repeated until all therecords of the stack have been played, whereupon the mechanism is again tripped, the escapements are actuated and the player arm23 is locked in its outermost position as shown in Fig. 1. During this operation the escapement 25 controls the return .of the player arm for records of different sizes and the escapement 25 opens the control switch during its actuation after the last record has been reproduced.

Apart from the mechanism of the escapement heads the machine may be constructed in the manner fully described in the copending application above referred to which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, which illustrate the escapement mechanism 24, this mechanism includes a lower supporting shelf 29 which is in the form of a hollow housing rigidly secured to a vertical sleeve'Sfl. The sleeeve is mounted for free rotation in a standard 3| carried by the motor board 29. At its lower end the sleeve '31 rigidly carries a pinion 32 whereby the esoapement may be actuated simultaneously with the other escapements. The shelf 29 supports the upper blade 33, the edge 34' of which is spaced above the upper surface of the shelf 29 by a distance approximately the thickness of a smaller record. The blade 33 is mounted by means of its boss 35 on a pin '36 which is carried by the shelf 29. A spring 3] which abuts against. a washer 38 carried at the upper end of the pin 39 and against a shoulder on .the boss 35 resiliently biasses the blade 33' downwardly. The blade 33' carries one or more wedge-shaped'projections 39 which are received in openings 490m the boss of the shelf 29. The openings 41} and wedge-shaped projections 39 have sloped engaging surfaces so arranged that if the blade .33 abuts against the edge of a record the blade lags behind the shelf 29 slightly and simultaneously moves upwardly to a slight extent until the edge 34 of the blade 33 has climbed into register on the top surface of the lowermost record whereupon, the blade 33 enters the stack. The spring 31 in cooperation with the engaging inclined surfacesof the projections 39 and the openings 4'6 causes the blade '33 to resume its normal posimember d8.

4 tion when the lowermost record becomes disen gaged therefrom.

It may here be noted that in the normal operation of the machine the shelves 29 and the blades 33 normally have their positions shown in Fig. 1 It will be seen, that a stack of records may be applied to the spindle. 2 2; and that they will rest on the shelves 29. When the escapements are actuated, they are oscillated in the clockwise direction and then in the counterclockwise =direction. The clockwise movement brings the blades 33. into the stack of records abovethejlowermqst record and continued movement in this direction carries the shelves 29 clear of the stack so that the lowermost record falls. The return movement of the escapement heads returns the shelves 29 below the stack and thereafter the blades 33 move clear of the stack so that the stack drops down on to the shelves. 29. As explained inthe application referred to above the escapements may be swung out of the path of the records on the turntable by manual operation of one of the escapements so that the records may be removed from the turntable by vertical movement. The escapements may be returned to their normal position either manually or by actuation of the trip.

Again referring to Figs. 2 to 5 each shelf 29 is provided with a radial slot H in its upper web which slot extends into a circular openin 42. The opening k2 normally receivesthe record el-evating member 43 with its upper surface normally flush with the upper surface of-the shelf 29 as shown in Fig. 2; The elevating member 43 may consist of a button or disc with curved edges which carries two downwardly extending slides 44 which are guided vertically informations 45 in the shelf 29. The slides M areprovided on the inner sides with horizontal slots Adwhich receive projections 41 carried by and extending-outwardly from-the legs- 0f a U-shaped The U-shaped member 48 is pivotally' mounted by means, of a horizontal pin 49 which is screwed into the housing of the shelf 29 in a horizontal position. A lever 50 which extends between the legs of the 'U -shaped member @8 is also pivotally mounted by means of the pin as. An actuating member 51 is 'pivotally connected to the upper ends ofthe legs of the U-shaped member 48 bymeans of a pivot pin 52, The member 5] is biassed outwardly and upwardly by means of a spring 53-wh-ich is connected to the outer end of; the shelf '29 and to a low point on the member 5|. ,A pin 54 which extends throughthe member is arranged to engage the underside ofthe shelf 29 so as to limit the upward movement of the member 51'. A portion 55 of the member 5I- normally rides in the slot- In the normal position of the member 51, as shown in Fig. 2; a record contacting portion '56 of the member 51 projects above the upper surface of the shelf '29. The outer end of the lever 50 extends freely through an eye 57 on a lower part of -the member 5|. The inner end of the lever5flis, provided with a downwardly extending tail or detent 5,8 which cooperates with a clutch member 59. Th clutch member 59 is rigidly mountedon the upper end f a ro 69. which exte ds thrqu n the. leeve 38.

d ten 58 5a. compleme ta y clutch memer for. he clutch member 59... At its. low r nd t e r i'fi g" 1y carr es-a cam 5| wh chis part of h echan sm for. sett ng the ayer arm. fo a record. of certainsize. The lutcl i.v member 59 is provided with a high side 62, a low side '63 and a still lower recess 64 which normally're ceives the detent 58 as shown in Fig. 2.

When the escapement 24 is in normal position and the record of smaller size is lowermost in the stack, that record is supported by the shelf 29 outwardly of the contact 56. When the escapement 24 is actuated to drop this lowermost record of smaller size the contact 56 engages the periphery of the record of smaller size and the member 5! is moved towards the axis of the escapement in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The

U-shaped member 43 is consequently swung in clockwise direction and its projections 4? swing upwardly carrying the slides 44 and the record elevating member 43 with it. Consequently if the next highest record is of larger size, it together with the rest of the stack is raised upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 so that the blade 33 cannot by any possibility engage this record of larger size. The blade .33 moves in below the record of larger size and if this edge 34 engages the lowermost record the blade is elevated until it can pass into the stack above the lowermost record. The eye 51 moving in a horizontal direction does not ailect the lever to so that its detent remains seated in the recess 65. Consequently the clutch member 59 is carried-with the escapement 24 during its oscillation and the cam BI is actuated to effect the initial setting of the player arm for a record of smaller size. It is to be noted with reference to Fig. 5 that the outer end of the lever 50 and the eye 5'! are displaced from the center line to permit the spring 53 to be located on this line. 7

When a record of larger size rests on the shelf 29 the member 5| is depressed as shown in Fig. 4. by pivotal movement about the pin 52 against the tension of the spring 53. The downward movement of the eye 51 swings the lever 50 about the pin 49 so that its detent 58 is elevated out of the recess M into a position above the lower side 63 of the clutch member 59. As shown in Fig. 4 the part of the lever 50 adjacent the detent 53 is elevated above the high side 62 of the clutch member 59. Consequently during the first movement of the shelf 29 the detent 58' rides freely over the surface 53 and the clutch member 59 and cam 61 are not actuated with the result that the player arm is located for the initial playing position of a record of larger size. It is to be noted that the detent 5s isalways in the path of the high side 62 of the clutch member 59 so that the clutch member 59 is automatically returned from any abnormal position by a record changing cycle.

The escapement 25 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 to 10. In this embodiment the lever 59 is omitted and the member 5| is provided with a tail or inner end 65 which cooperates with a clutch member 66, and the eye 5? is omitted. The tail 65 serves as a complementary clutch member for the clutch member 66. The tail 65 is connected to the member 5i by means of an enlarged portion 61 which is provided with an arcuate slot 68 through which the pin to passes. In normal condition the contact 56 of the member 51 projects above the upper surface of the shelf 29. When this contact engages the periphery of a record of smaller size the member 51 is bodily displaced to the right from its position in Fig. 6 into its position in Fig. 7. This moves the .-pin 52 to the right and swings the U-shaped member 48 in clockwise direction so that its projections 41 move upwardly moving the record elevating member 43 upwardly so as to 6. elevate a record of larger size immediately above the lowermost record in the manner shown in Fig. '7 and in manner identical with that of the previously described embodiment. Displacement of the pin 52 towards the right about the pivot d9 raises the pin 52 so that the'tail 65 of the member Si is elevated out of a recess 69 in the clutch member 66.

When a record of layer size is on the shelf 29 the contact 58 of the member 5| is depressed as shown in Fig. 8, by swinging movement about its pivot 52. The U-shaped member 38 is not actuated-so that the record elevating member "53 is not actuated. The tail 65 of the member 5! is however elevated out of the recess 69 owing to the bodily movement of the member '5] about its pivot 52. It is tobe noted-that the member 66 is provided with a low side 10 and a high side H. The clutch member 66 is rigidly mounted at the upper end of a rod 12 similar to therod 60 and at its lower end it rigidly carries a cam 73. This cam when actuated conditions the machine for automatic termination of operationof the motor at the end of a record changing cycle with norecord on the escapements, in the manner fully described in the copending application referredto. It will be noted from Figs-7 and 8 that the clutch member 66 is not actuated when there is a record on the escapement. When there is no record on the escapement the tail 65 is located in the recess 69 so that the cam 13 1s actuatedj It is to be noted that the tail 65 never rises above the high side i i.

Th escapement 23 may be substantially similar to the escapement 25. Since this escapement is not required to actuate any clutch member-the tail 55 and if desired the portion 67 may be ments since that avoids the production of anextra part. In any event the escapement 26 operates With respect to the elavation of a record of larger size in exactly the same manner as do the other two escapements.

It is to be noted that in the case of all the escapements a record of larger size iselevated by the verticalmovement of the relatively large members 43 and that these members have no slipping engagement with the elevated record.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is:

1. An escapement for automatic phonographs comprising an arm normally supporting a stack of records, a blade abovesaid arm adapted to enter said stack above the lowermost record of the stack, said escapement being arranged for bodily movement to bring said blade into the stack and thereafter to bring the arm clear of the stack to release said lowermost record, a record elevating member on said arm, guide means on said arm for preventing movement of said elevating member except in a direction normal to the planes of the records of said stack, an actuating member on said arm adapted to engage and be displaced horizontall by a record of smaller size resting on said arm, and means operatively the stack said escapement, being arranged for bodily movement. to bring; said blade. into the; stack andthereafter to bring. thearm clear'of the. stack to. release said lowermost record, a record elevating member: on saidarm,. guide means on said arm for preventing movement ofsaid elevats ing member except. in a direction normal to the planes of the records of said stack, an actuating member on said, arm adapted to engage the periphery of a record of smaller size in the lowermost position of the stack and to be displaced horizontally thereby, and means operatively connecting said actuating member and, said elevating member to effect projection of said elevating member, said elevating member being located clear ofthe lowermost record of smaller size.- and below a record of larger size in the next higher position, whereby; said record of larger size is. elevated clear of the record of smaller sizebefore the blade moves into the-stack.

3. An escapement for automatic phonographs' comprising an arm normally supporting a stack of records, a blade above said arm adapted to. enter said stack above the lowermost record of the stack, said escapement being arranged for bodily movement to; bring said blade intothe stack and thereafter to bring the arm clear of the stack to release said lowermost record,v a record elevating member on said arm, guide means on said. arm for preventing movement of said elelvating member except in a. direction normal to the planes of the records of said stack, a contact onsaid annnormally out of alignment with the records. of smaller size in the; stack and in alignment with records of larger-size-in; thestaclr, means biassing said contact upwardly above the surface-0f the arm whereby it may be depressed by arecord of larger size in the lowermost pOSir' tion of the stack and itmay engage and be. dis.- placed horizontally by the periphery 01".. a smaller record in the lowermost position of the; stack, and mean interconnecting said contact and said elevating member whereby said elevating: member is projected by the displacement of the con-. tact to, effect the elevation of a record of larger size in the next higher position of thestack clear of a. record of smaller size in the lowermost position of the stack before the blade enters the stack.

4. An escapement for automatic phonographs comprising an arm normally supporting. a stack of records, a blade above said arm adapted to. enter said stack above the lowermost. record of the starch. said escenement. bein s sedi for. bodil'il' movement tobring; said blade mm the stack and thereaft rtoring the. arm; clear of, the: stack: o release said lowermost record, a recordelevating, member on. s id: armt, i e; means; on said am: for preventing movement. of said elevating member except a directionnormal; to; the planes of. the.- records; of said; stack, a contact on: said armnormall out of alignment. with: the records, of smaller size in the. stack. and. in alignment withrrecords of larger size inlthe. stack,mea-ns ;.biassing, said contact upwardly above the. surface. of the arm whereby it-may be:- depressed a record of; largersize. in the lowermost position of thestack and itmayengage. and be displaced: horizontally by the periphery of a. smaller record in thelowenmost position of: the stack, and a lever pivotally mounted on said. arm, and. adapted. when actuated. to effect. projection; of saidelevating. momber, said-v lever being; operatively associated with the contact so, that lt'is actuated when the; contact isldisplaced by'arecord of smaller size whereby a record or" larger size. in thernext higher posie tionof the stack is elevated clear of the lowermost record of smaller size; before the blade enters the stack.

5. An escapement. for automatic phonographs comprising. an arm normally supporting a stack of records, a. blade above said. arm adapted to,

I enter said. stack above the lowermost record. of-

the. stack, said escapement being arranged for bodily movementto bring said blade-intdthe stack and. thereafter to bring; the arm clear of. the stack to release said lowermost record, a record elevating member on said arm, guide means; on said arm for preventing. movement of saidv elevating member except in a. direction normal, to the. planes of the recordsofsaid; stack, a. contact on said arm normally out of alignment with the records of smaller size in. the stack and in alignment with, records. of larger size in the stack, means biassing said contact upwardly above the surface of the army whereby it ma be depressed by a record. of larger size inthe lowermost posi tion of the stack and it may engage and be displaced horizontally by the periphery of a smaller record in the. lowermost position. of the. stack, and a lever pivotally mounted on said arm and adapted when actuated to. effect projection ofsaid elevating. member, said lever being pivotally connected to. said contact so that. the lever is swung when the contact is displacedby a recordof smaller size whereby a record of larger size in the next higher position. of the stack is elevated clear of the lowermost record of smaller size beforethe blade enters the stack.

CARL. G. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Johnson. Aug. 11, 1942 Number 

